Content area
Full text
key words
obesity » metabolic syndrome » erectile dysfunction
Abstract
This review focuses on the potential role of soft drinks, particularly the sugar component, in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED). We analyzed the hypothetical link between metabolic disorders, induced by sweetened soft drinks overconsumption, and ED. High caloric intake, high refined-carbohydrates, and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) content and less satiety are main factors responsible for metabolic disorders contributing to ED development. Regular diet mistakes among human males, such as soft drink consumption, may lead to slow and asymptomatic progression of ED, finally resulting in full claimed manifestation of ED.
Introduction
A soft drink is a non-alcoholic beverage, typically carbonated and sweetened. Soft drinks influence on human health is surrounded by myths and controversy. It is well known that soft drinks have detrimental metabolic effects nowadays and their consumption should be limited. However, men do not limit the volume of soft drinks in their diet and consume them much more often than woman [1]. The number of overweight adult males has tripled during the last three decades due to changing food and beverage diet patterns [2]. Soft drinks are the source of superfluous calories because of low satiety resulting from fluid consistency and high carbohydrate content [3]. Average soft drink consumption is estimated to be 100 liters per year. Regular consumption of soft drinks (one or more soft drink per day) is correlated with an excessive energy intake that induces weight gain (a 330 ml soft drink contains approximately 150 kcal) [4]. It was investigated that reducing intake by 100 kcal/day would eliminate 71.2 million cases of obesity in the USA [5].
This review focuses on the potential role of soft drinks, particularly the sugar component, in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED). The hypothetical link between metabolic disorders, induced by sweetened soft drink overconsumption, and ED was analyzed. ED is the inability to develop and maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse [6]. Large studies found an association of ED with dyslipidemia, impaired glycemic control, central obesity, and hypertension [7]. These systemic risks factors cluster to clinically diagnosed metabolic syndrome (MetS). Corona et al. reported that 96.5% of obese men with MetS had ED [8]. MetS components were proven to be...